Keep Your Skin Safe While Enjoying Florida Sunshine

As the Spring season approaches, you will likely be spending more time outdoors enjoying all of your favorite activities. Swimming, sunbathing, or just barbequing can be fun and healthy, unless you end up with too much of a good thing – sun exposure. Brevard County Florida is known for the beautiful sunny weather all year long, so we are exposed to the sun more than average. That is why you cannot ignore the tips and warnings of the Centers for Disease Control for protecting yourself from the consequences of over exposure.

The CDC recommends that you protect yourself using these simple tips, especially between the hours of 10am and 4pm.

Sunscreen
• Use sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection and at least 15 SPF.
• Apply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and after you sweat hard or swim.
• Don’t use expired sunscreen. Check the expiration date. If there is not an expiration date, discard after 3 years.

Clothes
• Cover as much skin as possible with loose fitting, tightly woven fabric.
• Light colored clothes offer more protection than dark.
• If wearing clothes is not practical, try to cover up with a T-shirt, if possible.

Hats
• Hats are a great way to protect you face and head from too much sun. Wear a hat with a wide enough brim to create shad for your ears and neck, also.
• If you wear a hat that does not protect ears and neck, such as a baseball cap, use sunscreen over 15 SPF on all exposed skin.
• Use hats with tightly woven fabric, such as canvas. Avoid the straw hats that are full of holes.

Sunglasses
• Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays to prevent cataracts, but they also protect the delicate skin around your eye from sun exposure.
• Use wrap-around glasses, if possible.

Shade
• During the peak sun exposure hours, the best way to reduce exposure is to stay in the shade.
• Even when in the shade, it is recommended that you use sunscreen and wear protective clothing.